As our Social Media Assistant, Fanta will be helping to enhance our online profile so we can share our story and projects with more people around the world.

Meanwhile, as a volunteer, Sim will be helping with a range of workshops and events we have planned for 2019.

You can read a bit more about both below.

Fanta Pompilus
Fanta is a postgraduate student from Goldsmiths, University of London who has lived in 3 continents and seven countries, so her understanding of “home” is multidimensional. In 2017, Fanta decided to move to London to pursue a master program in Race, Media and Social Justice in order to fulfil her desire to learn and understand how to create more inclusive spaces.

During her time at Goldsmiths, Fanta became involved in a lot of workshops relating to cultural diversity and decided to write her dissertation on the intersection of race and gender within transcultural lives. She strongly believes that education is the most impactful way to teach tolerance, kindness and difference. She recently joined rafi+friends as the social media development assistant and is dedicated to rafi+friends’ vision.

Simran Nanuwa
Sim is a recent Psychology & Counseling graduate, however she has always been a passionate creative. From teaching silkscreen printing to children in the USA, to creating her own small printing business and recently starting the ‘please’ campaign to raise awareness for climate change, Sim’s passion and heart lays in the creative sector.

Sim wants to use her voice to educate others, and hopefully influence others to do the same, and one day change the world for the better.

Sim adores meeting new people, seeing new places and enjoys the beauty in life.

The Carrots are a group of 6 students from all different countries (Austria, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, China, Lebanon, France, Russia) who met whilst studying and share a common interest in humanitarian projects and the work of charities.

We put our heads together, shared ideas and asked some questions:

- Who would donate funds to a simple association?
- No one !

Then we thought:

- What about giving our time and knowledge to those who need it the most ?

And that’s when it became obvious for us, that the one we wanted to help was Rafi & Friends.
We would be Rafi’s carrots and help Rafi expand his story and raise awareness in the UK and all around the world...

We are so excited to welcome The Carrots as part of the team, and we look forward to updating you on news of events coming up!

Rafi and Pauline were invited to the beautiful Island of Tresco as guests of Lucy and Robert Dorrien-Smith as part of the Red Cross Awareness Weekend.

Rafi and Pauline visited the children of the Tresco and Bryher School to host a Hopes & Dreams workshop, conducted by the Head Teacher Ms Gates and teacher Mr Wilson, with the help of Pauline Spearpoint and Lucy Dorrien-Smith.

rafi+friends gave each child their own Rafi Rabbit nightlight and story book to take home to share with their friends and family.

The warm and welcoming people of Tresco made this an especially memorable trip. We can't wait to return to Tresco!

Photographs of the children from Tresco Bryher School with their brilliant drawings from the Hopes & Dreams Workshop and the Hopes & Dreams Tree, made for us by Abbey Garden Curator Mike Nelhams - what an honour!

A host of events took place at the beautiful Abbey Garden over the weekend. Have a look at our facebook page to see more of the action @rafiandfriends

rafi+friends will visit a refugee camp in Italy to distribute books and deliver a creative workshop for young people. We are considering several camps which are predominately helping refugees from Africa. rafi+friends will publish a second book - Rafi Goes to School which tells a simple story about making new friends; featuring a giraffe called Gemma from Africa.rafi+friends has been invited to deliver workshops in more primary schools in the UK, including: London, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and international trips to Austria, Switzerland and Italy.rafi+friends will host a special event and exhibition in London to raise awareness for our project and showcase a collection of photographs taken by Elena Givone, along with film, poetry, storytelling, music and delicious Syrian food. More information coming soon...